I’ve been working on adding information here as questions pop into my mind or have had been asked before. If you don’t see your question here, please email me at GoldenChinchillas86@gmail.com so I can review it and add it after I reply to the email. Education is extremely important and I’m always willing to help.
Other informational links are posted at the bottom of the page. I highly recommend you head over there to these other sites for even more information.
How long should I expect my chinchilla to live?
Chinchillas can live up to 20 years and older if given the proper care throughout their lives. I explain to new families that 10 to 15 years is more common but don’t be shocked if they pass 20.
What type of bedding can I put in the cage?
Kiln dried pine. Fine to large flake size is fine. Aspen can be used also if you prefer it over pine. Bulk pricing bags sold at feed stores are a better option but even the local grocery store in a pinch will have bedding there. Blizzard or Anti-pill fleece cage liners can be used to but need to be washed and changed more often. If the chinchilla chews the fleece remove it immediately. NEVER Cover wood with fleece bedding. Wood needs to breath and be open.
Is it better to own a male or a female?
Neither gender is better than the other as each chinchilla has their own personalities and habits. Most breeders tend to keep their females more so than the males so you may see them more available but not because males make a better pet.
Do I need to weigh out or measure my chinchillas food?
NO. Please do not ever limit the amount of feed they have access to. Chinchillas will not over eat and become obese. They are pretty good at self regulating. Online in some various places it’s recommended to limit feed to encourage hay consumption, but this is very bad information as chinchillas should be eating their high quality pellets first and then their hay. BOTH wear down their teeth. They should always have access to fresh water daily too! Loose or cubed hay is fine.
Do chinchillas need to be brushed?
No. Most of the time they do not like to be brushed and they can get cranky. If you want to have one handy around incase of any mats you can look for a “greyhound comb” and used those. If you are grooming for shows, they need special grooming combs that have to be ordered from a show organization like ECBC or MCBA.
What temperature do I need to keep my chinchillas room/area at?
Ideally you would want to be around 65-70 degrees. Anything over 75 degrees can be fatal as these guys need the cold temps. Chinchillas do not sweat like we do or like how cats/dogs pant so they can not expel heat from their bodies as easily. Because of this, the fans only help move the air around them but do not cool them. AC units or swamp coolers are a must for these pets. Cooling stones help to have a cool surface to sit on but it does not cool the core temps down like Air Conditioners do.
Can I give my chinchilla a treat such as a fruit or a veggie?
Absolutely not. These are EXTREMELY dangerous for chinchillas to eat as it can cause bloat and other internal issues. Please do not feed any fruits, veggies or nuts to your pet.
These however are safe treats to offer.
- Organic Rolled Oats. Found in most stores, no steal cut or quick, just rolled.
- Rose Hips. Some times can be tricky to find but usually at Whole Foods, Organic Stores and online (www.RondasChinchillas.com)
- Shredded Wheat. The cereal but without the frosting. Break up the square to give smaller portions that are safer for treats.
Remember that chinchillas are tiny little guys so if the treat is bigger than the size of its pellets, break it down to be the same or smaller. Limit to only a couple times per week. We know you love your chinchilla but its unsafe to feed to many treats.
I suspect my chinchilla has bloat, what can I do?
If you feel that the chinchilla maybe bloated. You can can give Infant Gas relief drops to the chinchilla to help with this as they can’t pass the gas. Couple drops will be fine and monitor though having a good licensed exotic vet on the line would be good too. Evaluate what the chinchilla ate. Fruits, veggies, seeds, yogurt etc. are not supposed to be fed to chinchillas and this can cause bloat and blockages. Another thing is to never give ice cold water to a chinchilla… even on hot days. Normal room temp is best. You don’t want to cause colic.
Do I need to purchase a wheel for my chinchilla?
No. Chinchillas do not need wheels though some do like them. They burn a lot of calories running on them which can cause some stunted growth, extra eating to recoup calories or hinder bone structure. If you choose to buy a wheel they need to be 16 inches or more to have enough space for the chinchilla to fully stretch out while running. (think of how much a cheetah stretches out while they run.) Only use a wheel if your chinchilla is OVER 6 months of age, is healthy and a good weight. Personally, we do not recommend them.
Do I need a large cage for my chinchilla(s)?
No, large cages are not always ‘best’. Chinchillas are den dwellers and hop around their cages to sit on each shelf or ledge. They do not climb so extra tall cages are not ideal. They can jump pretty high if given the chance. If you only own a tall cage, EVERY 12 inches put a large shelf or other items in the cage incase the chinchilla falls, they don’t go all the way to the bottom of a cage. Tall cages can be a potentially fall risks in this situation if you don’t have enough things for them to jump on. We prefer wider or longer cages than tall ones. Ferret Nation and Critter nation cages are very common in the community but we do make our own cages and on occasion have some for sale.
My chinchillas feet look like they are cracking or scaly. Can I put lotion on them?
Chinchillas feet should look almost like cracks and calloused. This is their cushion and wear patterns on their feet. When you make their feet to soft and that’s when bleeding can happen. Cages should have various types of surfaces for them to move across on. If they are only ever on fleece, you must add in harder surfaces. Take a look at how the wear patterns form on your own shoes and think about the callouses on chinchillas feet. It’s their natural growth and you don’t want to disrupt their movements by keeping their feet to soft. Pumice ledges, wood houses/shelves are good options. Stainless steel and some galvanized shelves are safe. Something fun for them is terracotta pots for plants. Make sure you pick the proper sizing and bolt the pot to the side of the cage so little legs don’t get stuck in the hole at the bottom. Wing nuts, and 2 inch washers are ideal for these pots when mounted to the sides of the cage.
How often should my chinchilla have a dust bath?
Every 2 to 3 days is fine. You can used glass Pyrex baking dishes, pickle jars or old cookie jars for a bathhouse. You’ll want to be able to keep it clean and sanitary because after they are done they will mess in the dust. I say watch for the “nose swipe” because this is usually a sign they are done bathing. Baths should not take very long, 5 to 10 minutes is plenty but sometimes you can leave it in for 30 mins. If you own an Angora they will need baths more often to keep up with the longer fur type. Angoras can mat easier so some families keep dust in their cages at all times but its not typical for a regular fur type. If you own a Curly or Locken chinchilla, they say to prolong baths to keep those curls tight but its okay to bath the same amount as a regular fur chinchilla.
OTHER LINKS
Empress, MCBA and NCS websites for more details for showing, becoming a member and more.
https://www.empresschinchilla.org
https://www.mutationchinchillas.com
https://nationalchinchillasociety.co.uk/
If you haven’t seen my friends website yet. I highly recommend it as Tara is full of information and takes lots of pictures. She’s also more tech smart than I am and can add all that wonderful detail to her site.